More on the film from Wikipedia:

Plot

An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.

Cast

George Clooney as Mike Morris, Governor of Pennsylvania and a Democratic presidential candidate.
Ryan Gosling as Stephen Meyers, the mastermind behind Morris' campaign.
Paul Giamatti as Tom Duffy, a rival campaign manager.
Marisa Tomei as Ida Horowicz, a reporter for the New York Times.
Evan Rachel Wood as Molly Stearns, an intern for Morris' campaign.
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Paul Zara, Morris' campaign manager and Meyers' superior and mentor.

Production

In October 2010, Variety reported that Clooney signed on to produce, direct, and star in the film adaptation of Beau Willimon's Broadway play Farragut North. Exclusive Media Group, Cross Creek Pictures, Smoke House Pictures, and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions financed the film.

Resources on the film:

• George Clooney "I pitched the idea of a morality tale"
• Review from Comingsoon.net